Lake County Gazette

Lake County officials convened on Friday to commemorate the bird-friendly enhancements made at the Lake County Central Permit Facility in Libertyville. This initiative aims to mitigate bird strikes against glass windows and marks the first county building outfitted with a bird-friendly design.

"Incorporating bird-friendly building design may prevent the death of thousands of birds every year," said Lake County Board Chair Sandy Hart in a Lake County news release. "I'm proud that Lake County is making these simple, cost-effective improvements and continues to be a leader in protecting wildlife."

According to the Lake County news release, following a study of the facility, the building was retrofitted with improvements in high-strike zones. Proven modifications include a dot pattern applied to windows on the front of the facility and paracord hung four inches apart on the south side of the building. The Lake County Board approved building code amendments to mitigate bird collisions with glass on new and renovated non-residential buildings in unincorporated Lake County. These amendments include a policy for newly constructed Lake County government facilities.

The news release said that county staff surveyed and monitored the area around the Central Permit Facility to collect data about bird strikes occurring around the building. When it was identified as suitable for becoming more bird-friendly, staff researched optimal solutions to retrofit it. The dot pattern breaks up glass reflection, increasing visibility for birds. Hanging paracord is effective because research indicates birds will not fly through spaces less than two inches high or four inches wide.

Additionally, according to the news release, the Regional Operations and Communications Facility under construction in Libertyville is being built as a bird-friendly facility. The administrative building in Waukegan recently underwent an entrance renovation and is planned for retrofitting with bird-friendly solution improvements.

The news release emphasized that the Lake County Board continues to prioritize protecting and enhancing the natural environment through its strategic plan. Residents can learn more about its sustainability efforts at lakecountyil.gov/sustainability.